NFL says lockout of officials has begun

[Hawaii 5-0]

NFL says lockout of officials has begun

Posted by Mike Florio on June 4, 2012



If it wasn’t clear given the circumstances, it’s clear now: The NFL has locked out its game officials.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello informs PFT that the lockout has commenced. ”They advised us in March of their intention to take a strike vote and their plans to drag out the negotiations until late summer,” Aiello said.

By taking the initiative, the NFL can proceed with plans for identifying and training replacements, without being backed into a corner by a late-August walkout.

The effort to line up replacements also clarifies something about which there was some speculation during the player lockout last year. Even if the work stoppage is initiated by the employer, the employer can hire replacements.

Of course, the NFLRA could now try to take the league to court, either to block the hiring of replacements or, if the NFLRA decertifies (more accurately, “disclaims interest”) and the individual officials file an antitrust claim, like the players did in 2011.

That could be a more challenging task for the officials, since they are hired not by the 32 separate business that make up by the NFL but by the NFL to provide services to the 32 businesses.

Regardless, the league’s latest labor dispute officially has begun. Ed Hochuli and company are locked out. Barring a deal or a court order, the league will be using a new set of men in black (and white) once the 2012 season begins.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...als-has-begun/

[Hawaii 5-0]

this is going to be the head referee Game One versus the Broncos:

[Hawaii 5-0]

Steelers’ Clark not concerned with refs

By Mark Kaboly - Tribune-Review
Published: Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The NFL Players Association released a statement Monday about the league moving forward in hiring replacement referees for the upcoming year, stating, “The NFL tasked officials with increased responsibilities in protecting player health and safety, and its search for scabs undermines that important function.”

Outspoken Steelers player representative Ryan Clark said Tuesday that if the NFL and the NFL Referee Association aren’t able to come to terms with a new collective bargaining agreement by the start of the season and replacement referees are needed, player safety would not be an issue.

“It actually may go the other way,” Clark said. “They may overcompensate because it is such a big issue. I don’t necessarily think that the safety of the players will be in danger if they get new guys.”

However, Clark went on to say that replacement referees may take away from the game on the field.

“It would be the same way if you had to get replacement players in here,” Clark said. “The guys you choose are the guys you choose for a reason, and that is because you are confident in their abilities.”

Clark feels that a deal will get done in time for the start of the season.

“Nobody wants to be out of work,” Clark said. “You try to get the best deal possible, but at the end, negotiations will come through and referees will be out there.”

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...deal-guys-otas

[micraydim]

good article

[MACH1]

The perfect chance for der commish to get his own money generating refs in the game.

James is gonna be hatin life.

[tanda10506]

Let them strike and play without them, I bet we win an extra game this year and our margin of victory would go up by 7 points soley based on the refs not being there to f*ck us!

[jjpro11]

Originally Posted by tanda10506

Let them strike and play without them, I bet we win an extra game this year and our margin of victory would go up by 7 points soley based on the refs not being there to f*ck us!

yeah right.. did you read Clark's comments? these guys will be scared to death to miss an illegal hit call and will be throwing the flag every time a player's head snaps back. they get in more trouble from the league for not making calls on illegal hits than for making wrong calls on legal hits.

[tanda10506]

Originally Posted by jjpro11

yeah right.. did you read Clark's comments? these guys will be scared to death to miss an illegal hit call and will be throwing the flag every time a player's head snaps back. they get in more trouble from the league for not making calls on illegal hits than for making wrong calls on legal hits.

How is that relevant? I was sarcastically saying that we would do better without refs at all.

[jjpro11]

Originally Posted by tanda10506

How is that relevant? I was sarcastically saying that we would do better without refs at all.

i thought you were saying that by getting rid of the old refs from last year, and prior years, we'd be better off with new ones.